How to Introduce a Clownfish to an Anemone

The image of a clownfish swimming inside the tentacles of an anemone symbolizes coral reefs for many people. These two creatures form a symbiotic relationship: the clownfish cleans the anemone, keeps pests away and lures in food, while the anemone protects the clownfish from larger fish. Aquarists try to replicate this experience in a home aquarium with mixed results. Anemones require intense light, clean water and significant water current to stay alive. Only an experienced aquarist should attempt to house an anemone.

Things You'll Need

  • Display tank
  • Anemone
  • Quarantine tank
  • Clownfish
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Instructions

  1. Introducing the Anemone

    • 1

      Acclimate the anemone to the reef tank by slowly replacing the anemone's original water with water from the display tank. The acclimation must happen over the course of several hours. Any rapid change to an anemone's physiology stresses and usually kills the invertebrate. Remove and replace small amounts of the bag water with equal amounts of the tank water. During this time, keep the tank lights off and float the bag on the tank's surface to allow the water temperature to equilibrate.

    • 2

      Release the anemone into the tank by slowly lowering the bag into the water column. Minimize water circulation during this time by turning off the return pump and half of the tank pumps. Wait 5 minutes and turn on the tank lights and the tank pumps. Once the anemone re-expands, turn on return pump.

    • 3

      Wait while the anemone finds a suitable location. The anemone will move around the tank, searching for an area suitable to its needs: bright light and moderate, indirect water flow. This process usually takes several days. Once the anemone finds its ideal location, it will expand and contract at regular diurnal intervals and cease moving.

    Quarantining and Introducing the Clownfish

    • 4

      Quarantine the clownfish in a separate fish tank for two weeks. Always maintain an independent water supply for the quarantine tank. During the quarantine period, look for signs of disease and treat accordingly.

    • 5

      Acclimate the clownfish to the display tank's water. Capture the clownfish in a cup of the quarantine water and slowly replace the quarantine water with water from the display tank. Acclimating fish only takes an hour. Still, any rapid change to the clownfish's physiology might cause harm, so acclimate slowly.

    • 6

      Release the clownfish as far away from the anemone as possible. If there are other established fish in the tank, feed them first and turn off the tank lights to minimize aggression. The clownfish may hide at first. Eventually, it will explore and find the anemone. Clownfish instinctively know if an anemone poses a risk, and will avoid that part of the tank if this is the case. Over time, the clownfish may or may not accept the anemone as its host. There is nothing the aquarist can do to encourage or discourage this relationship.